Human Rights Watch seeks nominations for writers of
non-fiction, fiction or poetry deserving grants,
designed to recognize commitment to free expression and courage amid
political pressure.

Description

Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett
grant program for writers all around the world who have been victims of
political persecution and are in financial need. The grants are named
for the late American playwright Lillian Hellman and her longtime companion, the novelist Dashiell Hammett.
Hellman suffered professionally and had trouble finding work. Hammett
spent time in prison. Over the past 22 years, more than 700 writers from
92 countries have received Hellman/Hammett grants of up to US$10,000
each, totaling more than $3 million. The program also gives small
emergency grants to writers who have an urgent need to leave their
country or who need immediate medical treatment after serving prison
terms or enduring torture.
Free expression is a central human right, enshrined in article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares that “everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.”The winners of Hellman/Hammett grants are only a small
portion of the many writers around the world whose books have been
banned or who have been exiled, imprisoned, tortured, and harassed
because of their work. Their compelling stories illustrate the
importance of insisting that governments respect and protect freedom of
opinion and expression.
The grants are awarded annually after the nominations have been reviewed
by a selection committee composed of authors, editors, and journalists
who have a longstanding interest in free expression issues.

Eligibility

Writers all around the world who have been victims of political persecution and are in financial need

Grant

Hellman/Hammett grants typically range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000.
In addition to providing much needed financial assistance, the
Hellman/Hammett grants focus attention on repression of free speech and
censorship by publicizing the persecution that the grant recipients
endured. In some cases the publicity is a protection against further
abuse. In other cases, the writers request anonymity because of the
dangerous circumstances in which they and their families are living.

How to apply?

The nominator should try to provide:

Biographical information about the nominee;

A list of the nominee’s published writing;

A statement about the political persecution suffered;

A statement of need.

Nominations should be sent to the New York office of Human Rights Watch.Hellman/Hammett Grants, Human Rights Watch, 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor, New York NY 10118-3299.
For further information, contact hhgrants@hrw.orgThe Official Website